Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
American Indian Studies B.A.American Indian Studies
College of Liberal Arts
American Indian studies is dedicated to advancing awareness and understanding of the histories and contemporary experiences of American Indian people. The program focuses on the native peoples of the United States and Canada, but also draws on the experiences of indigenous peoples from other parts of the world. This multidisciplinary field looks at the histories, cultures, arts, languages, literatures, philosophies, religions, economies, politics, and legal status of indigenous peoples. The program also focuses on the many differences that have separated tribal nations as sovereign bodies and on the many similarities that unite them in common interests and causes. It gives special attention to the sovereignty of American Indian nations as this is expressed in all walks of life - from the preservation and revitalization of native languages to the protection and retention of native lands.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
Students must choose to specialize in either the General Track or the Language Track. All major coursework must be taken A-F with a grade of C- or better. At least 14 upper-division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.
Student may earn a B.A. or a minor in American Indian studies, but not both.
Beginning fall 2012, all incoming CLA freshmen must complete the appropriate First Year Experience course sequence. Specific information about this collegiate requirement can be found at: http://class.umn.edu/degree_requirements/index.html
Introductory Course
AMIN 1001 - Introduction to American Indian & Indigenous Peoples
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
Senior Project
Please note that AMIN 4820W is only offered in the fall term. Careful pre-planning is important.
AMIN 4821W - Capstone Seminar
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
Upper-division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper-division Writing Intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 4821W - Capstone Seminar
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
Program Sub-plans
Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans.
General Track
The General track requires at least 33 credits of coursework, including AMIN 1001 & AMIN 4820W. It is intended for majors who do not wish to complete their second language requirement in Dakota or Ojibwe.
Major Courses
Take 27 or more credit(s) from the following:
Required Course
·
AMIN 1002 - Indigenous Peoples in Global Perspective
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
or
AMIN 1003 - American Indians in Minnesota
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
Tribal Arts and Humanities (Group A)
Courses appearing in more than one group may only be used to satisfy one requirement, double-dipping is not allowed. AMIN 4990, 4991, 4994 & 4996 may be used to satisfy group requirements with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3201W - American Indian Literature
[LITR, DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3301 - American Indian Philosophies
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3601 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3402 - American Indians and the Cinema
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
or
AMIN 5402 - American Indians and the Cinema
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3303 - American Indians and Photography
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
or
AMIN 5303 {Inactive}
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
Culture and History (Group B)
Courses appearing in more than one group may only be used to satisfy one requirement, double-dipping is not allowed. AMIN 4990, 4991, 4994 & 4996 may be used to satisfy group requirements with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3143 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3409 - American Indian Women: Ethnographic and Ethnohistorical Perspectives
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3701 {Inactive}
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3711 - Dakota Culture and History
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3713 {Inactive}
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3870 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3871 - American Indian History: Pre-Contact to 1830
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3872 - American Indian History: 1830 to the Present
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 5409 - American Indian Women: Ethnographic and Ethnohistorical Perspectives
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
Political, Social, and Policy Issues (Group C)
Courses appearing in more than one group may only be used to satisfy one requirement, double-dipping is not allowed. AMIN 4990, 4991, 4994 & 4996 may be used to satisfy group requirements with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3312 - American Indian Environmental Issues and Ecological Perspectives
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3501 - Indigenous Tribal Governments and Politics
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 4231 - Color of Public Policy: African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, & Chicanos in the U.S.
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 4501 - Law, Sovereignty, and Treaty Rights
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 4511 - Indigenous Political Economies
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 4525W - Federal Indian Policy
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3141 - American Indian Language Planning
(3.0 cr)
or
AMIN 5141 - American Indian Language Planning
(3.0 cr)
·
Electives
Take 15 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3xxx
·
AMIN 4xxx
·
AMIN 5xxx
·
DAKO 3xxx
·
DAKO 4xxx
·
DAKO 5xxx
·
OJIB 3xxx
·
OJIB 4xxx
·
OJIB 5xxx
Language Track
The Language track requires at least 31 credits of coursework, including AMIN 1001 & AMIN 4820W. It is designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the field by completing two years of either Dakota or Ojibwe.
The required four semesters of Dakota or Ojibwe language study will satisfy the CLA second language requirement.
Major Courses
Take a minimum of 25 credits.
Preparatory Language Coursework
Note: these courses do not factor into the overall length in credits for the major.
Language Sequence
Take 16 credits.
Dakota
DAKO 3123 - Intermediate Dakota I
(5.0 cr)
DAKO 3124 - Intermediate Dakota II
(5.0 cr)
DAKO 5126 - Advanced Dakota Language I
(3.0 cr)
DAKO 5129 - Advanced Dakota Language II
(3.0 cr)
or
Ojibwe
OJIB 3103 - Intermediate Ojibwe I
(5.0 cr)
OJIB 3104 - Intermediate Ojibwe II
(5.0 cr)
OJIB 5106 - Advanced Ojibwe Language I
(3.0 cr)
OJIB 5109 - Advanced Ojibwe Language II
(3.0 cr)
Advanced Level Language Course
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3107 - The Structure of Anishinaabemowin: The Ojibwe Language
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3108 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3109 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3141 - American Indian Language Planning
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 3143 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 5107 - The Structure of Anishinaabemowin: The Ojibwe Language
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 5108 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 5109 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMIN 5141 - American Indian Language Planning
(3.0 cr)
·
DAKO 3125 - Introduction to Dakota Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
·
DAKO 3126 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
DAKO 3127 - Dakota Language for Teachers
(3.0 cr)
·
OJIB 3127 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMIN 3xxx
·
AMIN 4xxx
·
AMIN 5xxx
·
DAKO 3xxx
·
DAKO 4xxx
·
DAKO 5xxx
·
OJIB 3xxx
·
OJIB 4xxx
·
OJIB 5xxx
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Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 1002/Pol 1019 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3201W/EngL 3201W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3301/RelS 3321 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3402/AmIn 5402 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3402/AmIn 5402 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3303/AmIn 5303 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3409/AmIn 5409 |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn/Hist 3871 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn/Hist 3872 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3409/AmIn 5409 |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3501/Pol 3701 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 4231/Afro 4231/AmIn 4231/C |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 4501/Pol 4507 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 4525W/Pol 4525W |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3141/5141 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3141/5141 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Dako 1121/Dako 4121 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 1122/Dako 1122/Dako 4122 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 1101/Ojib 1101/Ojib 4101 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 1102/Ojib 1102/Ojib 4102 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3123/Dako 3123/Dako 4123 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3124/Dako 3124/Dako 4124 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3103/Ojib 3103/Ojib 4103 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3104/Ojib 3104/Ojib 4104 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3107/5107 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3141/5141 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3107/5107 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3141/5141 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |